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In what is ultimately a cost saving excerise, but a move that will make the modding community happy, Kogan doesn't touch the Android interface, leaving it mostly stock. There are a few apps and additions to the system menu, but otherwise this is exactly as it would be on a Google Nexus device.

Well, not exactly. There is, for example, the addition of a Quick Settings menu added to the notification curtain, which is certainly a handy extra.

Everything else is stock, down to the widgets and wallpapers. This is sort of like a clean canvas, given the number of customisable Launcher apps you can download through the Play Store.

A little unsteady

If you are hoping that a stock UI means faster performance, this isn't the case, unfortunately. General navigation is hampered by subtle, yet regular pauses in the animations and transitions. Not so much that it holds up the use of the phone, but it is consistent and noticeable.

We also had the phone crash on us during the review period. A proper, pull the battery, sigh loudly, phone crash. We can only hope this isn't indicative of the stability of the system on the rest of Kogan's stock.

The cheap phone excuse wears thin for us on this point. Budget priced phones can be smaller, can have lower quality or absent features, but all phones need stable software.